smithbrother

Brian, I love your car, and YOUR attitude, been there, been through many of the same issues. Not to PICK on anyone, FOR SURE, but these issues are just some of the reasons I modified my 41 Limited. NO disrespect to purist, I also understand your positions. My car loves 80 MPH, gets 20+ MPG, tires are available EVERYWHERE. In the 21 years its been on the road, NO issues. You look like a MOVIE STAR staring at the camera, with car in background, Lol. Sad that my bride of 55+ years fell and injured her hip recently preventing us from attending the show, but looking forward to reading general comments on the show. Dale in Indy

Matt, I feel just TERRIBLE. I have read so many reviews where folks have had issues with their tires. I recall one where the date code on the tires was so old that the buyer returned them. Sad, Sad. I sure wish I could be of help. I'm so sorry you have had to go through all of this. THINKING of YOU and FAMILY, Dale in Indy

Maybe someone at the show will see your post on the flat tire, and OFFER to be of help should you need such. Post your cell number if you would accept some help. Twenty miles out of Allentown would be an easy drive to be of help, I know it will all work out, and you will ENJOY the show, Dale

THINKING of YOU, it WILL get BETTER. It will be interesting to learn WHAT caused such? Dale in Indy

Taller tires would affect handling. Such would make cornering more, MUSHY. Tire pressure can and does affect MPG, as does SMOOTH CONSISTENT driving. Of course some folks have been known to FIB on MPG, and WHAT they paid for their car, Dale in Indy

Matt, I notice that your car appears to be missing the lower rocker curved trim piece that goes between the rocker, and the skirt. It goes on the rubber fender gravel protector. I may, MAY, have at least one of these, I will look, THAT IS IF YOU ARE IN NEED, Dale in Indy

Wishing YOU well, man oh man, that is quite a list, looks good to me. Hey, these 41's were driven across country time and time again, so it will do just fine. Keep positive, Oh, a flat tire ISN'T a game killer, a bottle or scissors jack would be my choice. Enjoy, Dale in Indy

I have NEVER met Matt, but he sure seems like a, HONEST, HARD WORKING CAR GUY TO ME. His listings are as GOOD as they get, IMHO, Dale in Indy P.S. Matt is also a very LOYAL Buick guy/owner.

I hope that WHITE jug ISN'T your gas tank held on with electrical tape? Be safe, Dale in Indy

Beautiful to say the least. Great colors. I wish you well in the sale, and in HEALTH, Dale in Indy

AMEN, Dale in Indy

Love it, KEEP the black tires, and small hubcaps. Dale in Indy

Look how bad the SCOOPS are on that car, and by the way, Shelby's IMO have nothing but a few add on pieces, that in most cases have done very little for performance. There are a few exceptions though, I will admit. Any true HARD CORE HOT RODDER could build a Tang that would blow its doors off, and for a lot less money. I wonder how many auctions/years it will be before the LAST of his PERSONAL cars are found, MONEY, MONEY talks, and auction houses just continue to report, THIS IS HIS PERSONAL CAR, sure! Remember you Shelby fans, this JUST MY OPINION, period, but, but, shared by others. Nothing personal keiser31, just my opinion, but then I owned a real 427 side oiler 1968 Cougar GT-E,,, new.. Dale in Indy

Smart move to PRACTICE & PRACTICE with your new Tig setup. I found that it works for me to have a friend that Tig welds everyday to do the long welds on sheet aluminum. His welds look so nice, so small, and grind/file/sand out so well, that I just hire him at $50.00 per hour, and he gets a lot done in an hour. I stick to welding the thicker/smaller pieces. The first time I hired him I asked him to do a test piece, I said NOTHING PERSONAL, just would like to see your work, he smiled,and wasn't offended. Since we have become very good friends. NOT sayin YOU can't/won't win out, but it is a skill to tig weld thin materials. Your car is looking good, YOU have good reason to be PROUD. I'm sure YOU have learned a lot during this build, that to me is the fun of a build. Dale in Indy

You could buy some thin closed cell self adhesive foam, and stick it on top of the mashed weatherstripping. You can do it carefully, and not notice it. You can also stick it on the area where the original strips touches, across from it, thus making a double seal. Some cars have that now. That might be your best choice, IMO. Dale in Indy

Oil has/is at full mark. I have found that the wire to the sensor seems to be loose in the terminal that is held by a nut on the sensor, it won't pull out with a tub, but seems loose Probably not the issue, but needs to be checked. I will strip that, and install a new connector, I have also E-mailed Dakota Digital asking their opinion on the gauge. Thanks to both for your input. Dale in Indy

WOW, Ben REMOVED the VISOR, see post # 1315. Look how ORIGINAL it looks, hehe. I bet his MPG will go UP, and UP, MAYBE! Dale in Indy

In 1996 I purchased a new crate LT-1 engine from GM. It's a Vette LT-1 Engine with fuel lines on the right. It's installed in my 1941 Buick Limited. The engine has run on Mobil I 10w 30 oil from day one. It has 26,000 miles. The Gage's are Dakota digital. Yesterday I took it for a drive, it had been sitting approx. a year, but started every week or so. Oil gage yesterday jumped all around. At same 2500 RPM it would show 35 lbs, then drop to 25, then up to 30, etc.. At idle 550 RPM it even showed zero. I guess I should hook up a different gauge and see what it shows. I'm changing the oil and filter today, but wonder if anyone has comments? The engine run/sounds great, engine temps never get above 205, even in stopped traffic on a 90 degree day. Thanks, Dale in Indy

I found it, and it is NOW on its way, Dale

Ben, sent you a PM, let me know if you don't receive. I hit the enter key, and it disappeared off the monitor, so not sure it went thru. I struggle with pulling up my SENT PM'S. I can find received PM's, but not SENT. Dale in Indy

I have said this before, it amazes me the knowledge you all have on these Reatta's. With that said, it seems they have more than their share of electrical issues. Is it because they were built/packed with so many electrical panels, etc? I really do though like the looks of the car, Dale in Indy

Only if it reads, DALE LAMAR SMITH, it's STARTING to grow on me,,,,,, Be careful, with the added HP your straight eight will have, that visor may act as a wing, and off in the wild blue yonder you go. Dale in Indy

Ask the person/company you purchased it from. You can always spray the brackets with exterior rattle can chrome/silver. Are you sure they are gold, and not BRASS? Dale in Indy

Ben, YOU are going to fool around and end up KNOWING what you are doing. Don't ya just love doing those tasks that you don't know how to do? I do, they are such a LEARNING EXPERIENCE. Keep on progressing, and say HI, to the 'visor' for me, huh? Dale in Indy

I will 'admit' I didn't make my comments as clear as they should have been. Sorry about such. I should have stated comments like WAIT 30-40 YEARS, and GRAFT THE FRONT CLIP ON A TRUCK were IMO not helpful to the original poster. I'm sure the posters were having fun, but doubt the owner was looking for such answers. To me any NEW poster should be handled with softer words/comments. I have noticed that to many former posters are not around anymore, and that isn't good for the site/us, IMO Now back to working on my MODIFIED Limited, just havin fun. My car is a driver, there is no way keeping it stock was going to work for me, I like higher highway speeds, better MPG, power this and that, and a CHEAP hehe Chevy, GM piece was perfect. Don't anyone be confused, the Chevy SB is as good an engine that has ever been produced. That's just NOT me sayin. I love the straight eight, but it wasn't going to work for me. Dale in Indy Dale in Indy